Translation of Si La Vie Demande Ca By the Groupe Native
Translated: Si la vie demande ça by Laura and Chris Mayne by T. Wignesan.
If Life would not wish it otherwise
[Note: The two sister French Caribbean-Martinique Black “Blues” Swan : Laura and Chris MAYNE (lyrics by the former) now making the near-top hit charts on C-STAR tv. They both star as the Groupe NATIVE, formed in 1991. The lyrics would put most poets in the same vein to shame. Just sample the talent on Yu-tube, if you can. The stanzaic form herebelow is my own format – with apologies to the lyricist-poet, if she doesn’t mind. Their debut was as “choristes” with NIAGARA and Gérald de Palmas. My translation follows each stanza, step by step.. T. Wignesan.]
Ton sourire habite toujours chez moi
Sur les murs et dans les coins de ma vie
Il me torture ou bien il me ravit
Je le garderai volontiers sur moi
Your smile lingers always in my place
On the walls and in the hidden recesses of my life
It both wrings my heart or let’s me rejoice
In either case I wear it gladly through all strife
Car jamais il ne m'a trahie
Ici, il sera toujours à l'abri
For it never ever betrays me
It will always be safe with me
Si j'ai la haine, ça n'en vaut jamais la peine
C'est inutile, si l'amour est un dilemme
C'est aussi pour ça qu'on l'aime !
The hate I might experience proves to be in vain
It’s futile, even if love is a dilemma
That’s why one loves for the same reason
Si la vie demande ça, je peux la comprendre
Jamais je ne voudrais la décevoir
C'est la vie qui veut ça
Et elle devra l'apprendre
If Fate deems it right, I can well understand
I would never want it otherwise
If Life insists the way it provides
It should likewise make us comprehend
Je suis prête à me battre encore pour toi
Encore pour toi
I’m prepared to battle my way though for you
All over again for you
Ce n'est qu'un souvenir à présent
Trop beau et je nous en veux tellement
Qu'un si tendre amour devienne un tourment
True, all that’s left at present is a remembrance
Infinitely dear, I hold it against us for the nonce
That such a tender loving tie agonise an’ trounce
Je vais oublier les portes qui claquent
Les sauts de nos humeurs un peu fantasques
Arrêter d'être la flèche à ton arc
I’ll try to forget the doors that slammed
The hurly burly of our tempers somewhat mad
Try not to be the arrow in your bow condemned
Si seulement la douceur de nos joies me suit
Tout ce que je n'ai jamais su te dire
Dans mon coeur va rester enseveli
If only the sweetness of our joys enjoin
All that I never knew how to tell you
Alas interred in my heart will remain in pain
(c) T. Wignesan, Paris, November 5, 2021
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